sharlene
hello, i'm responding to the 17-yr-old who has cystitis, with no relief in sight. i am 32, and over the last two decades i've had episodes of cystitis, as well as problems with endometrial tissue, cystic acne on my face & behind my ears, and my lung tissues are very thin and "bubbly" - this last problem causes spontaneous lung collapse. i feel that all are related to some sort of cell disorder, and have found that i feel (and look) healthiest when i am taking a high-quality garlic supplement daily. the best ones i've found have high yields if "allicin", which is a strong antibiotic component of garlic. the other benefit is that i don't get sick nearly as often as most people! garlic is a proven immune-system booster, as well as an effective way to lower bad cholesterol. i've never had any side effects, and my only word of advice would be to make sure that you take it with food - as it can irritate your stomach badly, expecially the stronger formulas. there are two that i recommend; "GARLINASE", which is from switzerland, so rather expensive, and i've also been very happy with "Life" brand, which is canadian & sold through shopper's drug mart. i find that garlinase makes me more prone to acne, as it makes my skin much more oily - but it is much stronger. i really think that you've got nothing to lose by giving it a try. give it a few weeks of daily dose & see how you feel. good luck!